Holding means for ventilator louvers and the like



W. SKIPWORTH.

HOLDING MEANS FOR VENTILATOR LOUVERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICAUON FILED JuLYz?. 1918.

1342917, PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

/fg fi J/f 1W ,ef o 6V ff? ff I ff ff .9 if if ff 4"/ I f 1 f J l 5'/ ff Patented Sept., 5, 1922.

i lidihlll'lhlilr MMM? "savant WALTER, snrrwonrn, on crinvnitann, entre, assionon ro Tian onto BLOWER ooiviranv, or CLEVELAND, orrro, .a conrcna'rron or orare.

HOLDING Manns non, vnivrrnnroa Lonvnas Ann rire Linn.

Application led'uly 27, 1918. Serial No. 246,976.

T0 czZZw/wmz'mag/ concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER SKIrwonTrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga State of Ohio, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holding Means for Ventilator Louvers and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, referencey being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an automatic holding device ypeculiarly suitable for retainingthe louvers of ventilators in open positions7 kthough well adapted for use in other connections where the requirements are analogous.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, .thoroughly reliable and durable automatic device-for holding an object in a given position against the returning iniiuence of gravity or other force and which acts to release the object from such position upon the movement of the object slightly further in advance of such position, so that the movements of the obj ect in both directions may be controlled, for instance, through the medium of a flexible element connected thereto.

Such a device is illustrated in the accompanying drawing as associated with a ventilator. F ig. 1 is a substantially central vertical section through a ventilator equipped with my improved holding` device for maintaining the louvers of the ventilator in open position; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the present embodiment of my invention.

The ventilator wherewith l have shown my holding device associated is of the cowl type and comprises'a base ring 1 having a bearing plate 2 supported centrally of and above it through braces 3. rlhe cowl, designated 5, is supported through a bearing plate 6 that is sustained central of the cowl by braces 7 and which surmounts theformer bearing plate 2, suitable anti-friction elements 8 being interposed between the two plates. The plates are maintained in proper relation to each other and against separation by a tube 9 which depends from the upper plate through a central aperture of the lower plate and has a nut 10 applied to it beneath the lower plate.

A series of louvers 12 are pivoted at their and cowl and are adapted'to drop byl gravity to closing position, in a manner readily understood. The free edges of the louvers are connectedby a link 15, so that they may be moved in unison by a common operating means, such beingl shown in the present instance as a flexible element or chain 16 having one of its ends connected at 17 to the outer edge of the top louver and being guided over a sheave 18, carried by the horizontal top portion 19 of the cowl, and thence through an aperture in the top louver and over a sheave 2O that is carried by the inclined wall 21 of the cowl directly above the tube 9 through which `the flexible element depends so that it may be reached from 'the' interior ofthe `building whereon the ventilator is situated.,

In its present embodiment, my holding device comprises a plate 25 that is connected to the top louver 12 sufciently inward from its free edge to escape the upper edge of the adjacent louver wheny the louvers are in closed position.r The ends of the plate are turned inward at right kangles to its body portion and are perforated to receive the' receiving recesses or notches 33 into which the entering` portion 28 of the bale 27 is adapted to drop, thereby to hold the louvers open, the extent towhich the louvers are held open being dependentl upon the particular notch into which the bale is engaged. A gravity dog 35 is pivotally connected to the plate 29 adjacent each notch 33 and, when hanging freely or in normal position, its upper end is disposed across the open side of the notch kand is restricted against movement therefrom in a downward direction by the engagement of a stop kportion of the dog with the lower edge of the plate. The dogs are preferably made of sheet metal and bent into U-shape to embrace the plate 29 so that the upper edge that when in normal position the upper end ot the dog projects slightly above the upper edge of the plate 29.

The louvers are shown in the drawing as held open by the engagement of the entering portion 2S or the bale within the upper notch 33. To release the louvers, the flexible element 16 is pulled to further lift the louvers and thus to disengagethe enteringv portion 28 .trom the notch and cause it to override the upper dogv 35 permitting` the dog` to swing to normal position. T his closes the upper notch 38 so that the bale may ride down over its upper end and likewise over the upper end of the lower dog` and assume a position adjacent the lower end ot the plate 29 where it reposes when the louvers are closed.

lNhen the flexible element or chain 16 is pulled to open the louvers, the 'bale rides upward along the plate 29 and rengages the protruding end of the first dog; and swings the same out oi the way so that the bale may drop into the tirst. notch it its movement is arrested at this point. Otherwise it will travel on permitting the iirst dog to swing` to normal position and engage the second dog and swing it out'of the way to permit the bale to drop into the second notch where it is shown in the drawing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A Ventilating device comprising a hood portion having an opening therein, a plurality of louvers adapted to move in unison to open and close said opening, a iiexible element secured to said louvers and extending through said hood to a point within the building on which said device ismounted, a substantially7 il-shaped member pivotally connected to said louvers and extending within the hood, a stationary member fastened to said hood and provided with a plurality ot' notches, and a dog pivoted adjacent each ot said notches, said il-shaped member being vadapted `to engage said notches upon a downward pull ot said tieX- ible element thereby to movesai'd member in one direction and engage said dogs to override said'notches when said tlerible elenient is released to permit said member to move in the opposite direction.

ln `testimony whereol', 'I hereunto al'HX my signature.

WALTER SKPNQRTH. 

